Sheet-metal wheel



SHEET METAL WHEEL Filed sept. 2'?, 1925 zshetS-sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. Mago SFFJIL.

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SHEET METAL WHEEL Filed sept. 27, 1923 2 sneet-sheet 2 I NVENTOR.

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Patented Dec. 9, 19.24.

UNITED STATES PATENT MAYO E. ROE, OF ELY-RIA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE COLSON GOMPAY, 0F ELYRIA, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

SHEET-METAL WHEEL.

Application lc-d September 27, 1923. Serial No. 665,219.

To all whom it my concern.'

Be it known that I, MAYO E. Ron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elyria, inthe county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wheels for vehicles and more particularly to disc wheels which are rotatably `mounted upon a supporting shaft.'

Anobject of my invention resides in constructing a wheel from two sheet metal discs which are formed and secured together to provide an outwardly extending tire seat, a vertical intermediate portion, and convexly ycurved inner portions providing a hub.

Another object of my invention is to construct a vwheel from two sheet metal discs, the inner portions of which are spaced apart and terminate in inturned hub fianges, which are longitudinally adjustable upon and secured to a shaft, in desired spaced relation.

Another object of my invention is to 'provide a wheel which comprises two discs having spaced inner portions providing with inturned hub flanges, an annular hollow hub member intermediate the spaced innerdisc portions which loosely surrounds the hub anges, and means for adjustably securing the inner disc portions longitudinally upon a supporting s aft.`

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will be more apparent by reference to the drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which drawings,

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of my improved wheel;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line A-A of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the solid wheel shaft removed from the assembly;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the hollow 4wheel shaft removed from the assembly;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified type of wheel; and

Fig. 6 is a section of the same taken on line B-B of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, in all of which like parts are designated by like reference characters, at 10 I show a solid axle or shaft having slightly reduced threaded ends 11, the axle also being threaded at 12 adjacent each of the reduced ends. A hol- ,of the axle 13, and the inner faces thereof are curved to provide circularrunways 16. Annular bearing ring members 17 are provided with a curved runway 18, and ball bearings 19 are positioned between the runways 16l and 18 of the pairs ofloearing members. The rings 18 have transverse annular walls 20 which extend around a portion of the cone members 15 and terminate inl upstanding anges 21.

` A pair of similarly formed sheet lmetal discs 22 are secured together to provide the body of the wheel. These discs are each formed from a centrally apertured piece of metal which is bent to provide an outwardly curved peripheral rim portion 23, an intermediate vertical portion 24, and `a convexly through which bolts 26extend, and nuts 27 are secured thereon to'removably maintain the discs tightly together. When so secured together the peripheral flanges provide a seat within which a rubber tire 28 is secured. The inner edges of the curved inner portion of the discs curve outwardly and are turned in to provide annular hub flanges 29. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I provide a hollow cylindrical hub member 30 intermediate the inner walls of the curved'inner portions of the disc members, which is loosely mounted uponand surrounds the hub flanges 29.

This hub member serves las a spacer, and central supporting element, adding rigidity and strength to the wheel. This element, however, is not essential where the character of the vehicle permits a lighter const-ruction, and as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, I illus'- trate a wheel which does not include this element.

The inner surface of the annular hub flanges 29 are of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the transverse wall 20 of the bearing ring and is carried thereon and maintained in position by the upstanding flanges 21 which engage the outer face of the curved inner portions ofthe discs. By screwing the cone bea-ring 15 longitudidiscs longitudinally upon the axle.

nally upon fthe shaft 13, the space between the curved inner portions of the disc can be adjusted to the desiredrelation with each other, and in position relative to the shaft as desired. .This adjustment is accomplished by the movement of the ball bearings and the rings 21 upon which the curved portions of 'the discs are mounted.

Washers 31 are placed, adjacent the outer ends of the cone bearings, upon the shaft 10, and nuts 32 are screwed therea inst to maintain the cones in position. is carried by arms 33 .of a fork which is carried by a spindle 34 and nuts 35 are secured upon thc threaded reduced end of the axle 10 to secure the fork arms thereon. The construction of the fork and spindle is a conventional form of castor wheel mount-ing, and various other methods of mounting the axle could be used equally as well.

It will thus be. seen that I provide a pair of discs which curve outwardly, the free ends of which are compressed toward each other by bearing rings which are free to rot tate with the wheel, and that the bearing members are adjustable' upon the Shaft to regulate the space between the inner disc sections, and to regulate the position oflte e construction of the discs and hub member is such that a strong durable wheel is provided, which can be used on hand trucks, and like vehicles to support various loads.

Having thus described my invention, it will be understood that numerous and extensive departures may be made 'from the details of construction in the embodiments herein illustrated and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

he shaft 1. A wheel of the class described, comprising a pair of similar sheet metal discs, each of said discs being formed =with an outwardly flan d periphery providing a tire seat, vertica intermediate portions, and convexly curved inner portions terminating in inturned annular hub ilanges; means securing the vertical portionsv of said discs together; and a spacer'sleeve extending intermediate the convexly curved portions of said discs and loosely around said inturned hub ilanges.

2. A wheel 'of the clam described, comprising a pair of centrally apertured sheet metal discs, said discs each being formed of a single piece of metal having outwardly extending penipheral portions forming a tire seat, vertical intermediate portions adapted to be secured together, and convexly curved inner portions terminating in inturned annular hub flanges; and a hollow cylindrical hub member extending around the said inturned hub flanges between the convexly curved inner portions of said discs.

' 3. A wheel of the class described, comprising a pair off similar sheet metal discs, each of said discs being formed with an outwardly flanged periphery providing a tire seat, vertical intermediate portions secured together, and convexly curved inner portions terminating in inturned annular hub flanges; and means surrounding said hub flanges intermediate said eonvexly curved portion of said discs providing a spacer hub for said wheel.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature this 21st day of September. 1923.

MAYO E. ROE. 

